PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

R Ramos

Publications and source records attributed to R Ramos.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Induction of mixed-function oxygenase system and antioxidant enzymes in the coral Montastraea faveolata on acute exposure to benzo(a)pyrene.

Components of the cytochrome P(450) monooxygenase system (MFO) and antioxidant enzymes were investigated in the coral Montastraea faveolata exposed to the organic contaminant benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P). For bioassays the corals were exposed to increasing concentrations of B(a)P (0.01 and 0.1 ppm) for 24 and 72 h, with water renewal every 24 h. Enzymatic activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were measured in host (polyp) and hosted (zooxanthellae) cells. NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity and contents of cytochrome P(450) and P(420) were only measured in the polyp. Antioxidant enzymes CAT and SOD in polyps and zooxanthellae and GST in polyps increased significantly at the highest concentration and maximum time of exposure. Cytochrome P(420) was found in all colonies, and the cytochrome P(450) content was greatest in the colonies from the highest concentrations of contaminant. NADPH cytochrome c reductase activity and the concentration of pigments did not vary between treatments. This is the first report of the induction of both detoxifying mechanisms, the MFO system and antioxidant enzymes on acute exposure to an organic contaminant in the reef-constructing coral species M. faveolata.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Oxacillin-resistant and multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Lima, Peru.

In a hospital in Lima, Peru, a review of 103 Staphylococcus aureus infections was conducted during 2002. The prevalence of oxacillin-resistant S. aureus strains was 68%; 25% of strains were resistant to multiple drugs. Previous use of antibiotics and undergoing a surgical procedure during the current hospital stay were associated with the presence of an oxacillin-resistant S. aureus strain.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Thoracic sympathicolysis for primary hyperhidrosis: a review of 918 procedures.

BACKGROUND: Bilateral upper thoracic sympathectomy or sympathicolysis, currently the standard treatment for palmar or axillary hyperhidrosis, is regarded as a safe procedure. This study evaluates the quantitative and qualitative incidence of intraoperative and postoperative complications resulting from bilateral thoracic sympathicolysis. METHODS: From 1996 to 2004, 458 consecutive patients with primary hyperhidrosis underwent surgery. These patients comprised 143 men (31.2%) and 315 women (68.7%) with a mean age of 26 years (range, 14-52 years). In all but seven cases, the procedure was bilaterally synchronous. RESULTS: No mortality was recorded. The anhydrosis rate was 97.4%, with a hypohidrosis rate of 2.4% and a failure rate of 0.2%. The latter was resolved with reintervention. The mean hospital stay was 17 h. The rate of major perioperative complications with conversion to thoracotomy was 0.4%. The overall rate of postoperative complications was 3.6%. The complications and rates observed were as follows: pneumothorax (2.06%), subcutaneous emphysema (1.08%), pleural bleeding (0.2%), hemothorax (0.1%), and atelectasis (0.1%). Compensatory hyperhidrosis was observed in 48.4% of the patients, but the sensation of compensatory hyperhidrosis was reported in 85.6% of the cases. Excessive dryness of the hands was reported in 0.38%, Horner's syndrome in 0.32%, and gustatory hyperhidrosis in 1.1% of the cases. The overall satisfaction rate was 88.5%. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that endoscopic bilateral thoracic sympathicolysis is an effective method for managing primary hyperhidrosis, especially severe palmar hyperhidrosis, but it is necessary to inform patients fully concerning the undesirable effects.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed2006

[Results of high bilateral endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy and sympatholysis in the treatment of primary hyperhidrosis: a study of 1016 procedures].

OBJECTIVE: Thoracic sympatholysis and sympathectomy are the current standard treatments for primary hyperhidrosis. In this study, we evaluated the incidence of peri- and postoperative complications associated with these procedures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1996 to 2004, 520 consecutive patients (364 women), with a mean age of 26.8 years, were treated for primary hyperhidrosis at our hospital. The procedure was bilateral in all but 24 cases. The 484 patients in the sympatholysis group underwent a single intervention while the 36 patients in the sympathectomy group underwent 2 separate interventions. RESULTS: No deaths occurred. Anhidrosis of the target area was achieved in 97.6% of patients while 2.2% experienced hypohidrosis. In 0.2% of the cases, the procedure was initially unsuccessful and a second intervention was required. The mean duration of hospital stay was 72 hours for patients in the sympathectomy group and 17 hours for the sympatholysis group. Serious intraoperative complications requiring conversion to thoracotomy were recorded in 0.2% of patients. Postoperative complications--of which pneumothorax was the most common--occurred in 5.2% of the cases (in 22.5% of the sympathectomy group and 3.55% of the sympatholysis group). Compensatory hyperhidrosis occurred in 48.4% of the patients, excessive dryness of the hands and palpebral ptosis in 0.38%, and gustatory sweating in 0.9%. The degree of patient satisfaction was quite high (88.5%) and only 2.3% were very unsatisfied. CONCLUSIONS: Given the results obtained, we can conclude that both sympatholysis and sympathectomy are appropriate treatments for hyperhidrosis. Nonetheless, because sympatholysis is both easier to perform and less aggressive, we consider it the treatment of choice for primary hyperhidrosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

[Hemodialysis prospective multicentric quality study].

In medicine a considerable amount of resources are used in research, but very little attention is paid to ensuring that the findings of research are implemented in routine clinical practice. This prospective study has the aim to evaluate the efficiency of some clinical management strategies (feedback, benchmarking and improving plans) on haemodialysis treatment results in 4 different dialysis centres. We collected consensus data related to haemodialysis results every 6-8 months and informed each centre about its own results (feedback) and how these related to the others(benchmarking). We designed improving plans for any bad result detected. By the end of two years of follow up, 294 patients had been included in the study. The results obtained at the end of the study had improved in comparison with those obtained at the beginning (statistically significant) for the following indicators: % of patients with Hb< 11 g/dl, % patients with Kt/v < 1.2, mean Kt/v, mean albumin, % patients with albumin< 3.5 g/dl y % patients with C reactive protein (CRP) > 5 mg/dl. No statistical changes were found in: mean erythropoietin (EPO) doses, blood pressure (BP), phosphorus plasmatic,calcium-phosphorus product, parathormone (PTHi) and vascular access distribution. We explained the absence of any improvement because of adequate start indicators in some areas (BP and vascular access), therapy with limited efficiency (calcitriol, calcium carbonate and others), lack of support resources (dietetic unit) or inadequate design/implementation of improving plans.In conclusion, our intervention illustrates that combined clinical management strategies(feedback, benchmarking and improving plans) are efficiency in improving some areas of haemodialysis treatment (anaemia, dialysis dose, nutrition and inflammation), although it does not improve calcium phosphate metabolism related indicators.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Donors with positive blood culture: could they transmit infections to the recipients?

A retrospective analysis of data from January 1996 to June 2004 was performed to evaluate the transmission of bacterial infections from organ donors to recipients. Donors were classified according to blood culture results: group 1 with negative blood culture (n = 216), and group 2 with positive blood cultures (n = 52). The age, cause of death, temperature, leukocytes, and number of organs procured were similar in both groups. Donors of group 2 had significantly more days in the intensive care unit (ICU): group 1 (3.14 +/- 3) versus group 2 (4.39 +/- 3.38 days P = .038). Fifty-one percent of group 1 and 52% of group 2 received antibiotic treatment, in most cases because of the suspected presence of a respiratory infection. In 22 donors the organisms that yielded in the blood culture were considered potentially pathogenic/contaminants (subgroup 2A) and in 30 donors the organisms were considered pathogenic (subgroup 2B). The demographic profiles of these two subgroups were similar. During the first month after transplantation, kidney and liver recipients were closely monitored. Recipients received wide-spectrum antimicrobial prophylaxis. Ten of 61 renal recipients developed infectious diseases. In nine cases (four in subgroup 2A and five in subgroup 2B) there were urinary infections. One recipient of subgroup 2B developed prostatitis. Six of 34 hepatic recipients developed infectious diseases. Four of the six cases (four in group 2A and five in group 2B) developed catheter infections and two cases of peritoneal infections. We could not find any case where a bacterial blood isolate from a donor matched a positive culture in the corresponding recipient. A longer stay of a donor in the ICU resulted in the more pronounced growth of organisms in blood cultures, as expected. In our experience, organs obtained from a donor with a positive blood culture may be transplanted safely, probably due to the low virulence of the organisms as well as the polymicrobial therapy routinely given to the recipients.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2005

[Primary hyperhidrosis and anxiety: a prospective preoperative survey of 158 patients].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the location of hyperhidrosis, the accompanying signs and symptoms, and patient anxiety assessed on 2 scales and standardized psychometric instruments. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study of patients with hyperhidrosis was carried out between September 1, 2001 and June 30, 2003 with a self-administered preoperative questionnaire. The variables studied included the location of hyperhidrosis, the accompanying signs and symptoms, and the self-reported degree of anxiety and perception of its effect on daily life assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and a questionnaire designed in our department. RESULTS: Palmar hyperhidrosis was reported by 93.6% of patients, plantar by 70.2%, axillary by 66.4%, facial by 12.1%, groin by 8.2%, chest by 5%, and abdominal by 2%. While more than 50% of the patients reported facial blushing and palpitations as accompanying signs and symptoms, approximately 30% experienced epigastric pain, trembling, and headaches. Over half of the patients reported that their anxiety was incapacitating, and a mere 1.2% experienced none at all. STAI scores were similar to those of the general population whereas scores on our department's questionnaire reflected those of the self-reported anxiety ratings. CONCLUSIONS: Primary hyperhidrosis is a disorder in which excessive sweating occurs mainly, but not exclusively, on the palms. The condition is accompanied by signs and symptoms typical of autonomic nervous system hyperactivity and by a degree of anxiety that has an incapacitating effect on normal life, although that anxiety is not detected by the STAI questionnaire alone.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Lipoprotein oxidation profile in end stage renal disease patients. Role of vitamin C supplementation].

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to analyze the lipid and lipoprotein oxidation profile in patients with end stage renal disease who started haemodialysis and also to evaluate the possible effect of haemodialysis and vitamin C supplementation on lipoprotein oxidation one year after the initiation of the therapy. METHODS: Forty-one end stage renal disease patients who started haemodialysis between January 1999 and January 2000 were enrolled in the study. The patients were randomised to receive 1,000 mg/day of vitamin C or placebo and then hemodialysis was initiated. We measured the lipid profile and the susceptibility of LDL and HDL to oxidation using cooper ions, at the moment of inclusion and one-year after the treatment. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed among the vitamin-C treated patients and those who received placebo. Our results show that haemodialysis by itself did not induce deletereous effects on the lipid profile, which was slightly improved. A small decrease in total cholesterol--183 to 164 mg/dl (group A), 170 to 144 mg/dl (group B); in LDL cholesterol (100 mg/dl to 79 mg/dl (group A), 88 mg/dl to 73 mg/dl (Group B); and in phospholipids [198 to 188 mg/dl, group A (Group A), 195 mg/dl to 178 mg/dl (Group B)], was observed in all the patients one year after starting haemodialysis. When considering oxidation-derivative products, the lag phase of LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol was enlarged but without statistical significance. A tendency to increase the vitamin E generation in HDL and LDL lipoproteins was observed in vitamin-C treated patients, but the difference still remained not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Haemodialysis by itself could improve lipid profile in patients with a previous pro-oxidative state such as uraemia. Although our results have failed to demonstrate significant differences between vitamin C-treated and not treated patients, the tendency to decrease oxidation products by supplementation of vitamin C could mean a beneficial effect on oxidation parameters. In order to improve oxidative stress, the use of lipophylic more than hydrophilic vitamins could be evaluated in randomized studies with a more important number of patients.

Ascorbic Acid↗
PubMed2005

[Intraventricular meningioma: case report in infancy].

Meningiomas are infrequent tumours in infancy but when they appear in this age group, the intraventricular location is more frequent than in adults. We report the case of a 5-year-old girl with intracranial hypertension and a VI nerve palsy. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed a tumoral lesion involving the right lateral ventricle with intense enhancement after contrast administration. It was completely resected through a mean temporal circunvolution route. Histological diagnosis was of atypical meningioma.

Cerebral Ventricle Neoplasms↗
PubMed2004

Perceptions of general environmental problems, willingness to expend federal funds on these problems, and concerns regarding the Los Alamos National Laboratory: Hispanics are more concerned than Whites.

Perceptions about general environmental problems, governmental spending for these problems, and major concerns about the US Department of Energy's Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) were examined by interviewing 356 people attending a gun show in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The hypothesis that there are differences in these three areas as a function of ethnicity was examined. We predicted that if differences existed, they would exist for all three evaluations (general environmental problems, government spending, and environmental concerns about LANL). However, this was not the case; there were fewer ethnic differences concerning LANL. Hispanics rated most general environmental problems higher than Whites and rated their willingness to expend federal funds higher than Whites, although all groups gave a lower score on willingness than on concern. Further, the congruence between these two types of ratings was higher for Hispanics than for others. In general, the concerns expressed by subjects about LANL showed few ethnic differences, and everyone was most concerned about contamination. These data indicate that Hispanics attending a gun show are equally or more concerned than others about environmental problems generally but are not more concerned about LANL. The data can be useful for developing future research and stewardship plans and for understanding general environmental problems and their relationship to concerns about LANL. More generally, they indicate that the attitudes and perceptions of Hispanics deserve increased study in a general population.

Conservation of Natural Resources↗
PubMed2004

[Compensatory sweating after upper thoracic sympathectomy. Prospective study of 123 cases].

OBJECTIVE: The most unpleasant consequence of upper thoracic sympathectomy is compensatory sweating (CS). De-pending on the series, the incidence of CS ranges from 24% to 85%. The aim of this study was to determine the relation between CS and the following factors: distribution of hyperhidrosis, procedure performed (unilateral, synchronic bilateral, or sequential bilateral), and number of sympathetic ganglia eliminated. In addition, the degree of patient satisfaction was recorded as objectively as possible. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective study of 123 patients who underwent upper thoracic sympathectomy for palmar and/or axillary hyperhidrosis between 1 January, 1996 and 1 June, 2002 at our unit. All patients completed a questionnaire on symptoms 8 weeks before and after surgery to deter-mine postoperative changes in distribution of the hyperhidrosis and the overall degree of satisfaction on a scale of 0 to 4. RESULTS: The sensation of CS was reported by 86.1% of the patients. When asked to relate this sensation to changes in sweating intensity in specific parts of the body, 46.54% reported CS and 48.37% no change. The trunk was the only region where statistically significant increases in CS occurred; in the feet, a decrease in sweating was noted. No differences in CS were observed with respect to the type of surgery or the number of sympathetic ganglia eliminated. The overall results were considered very satisfactory or quite satisfactory by 84.55% of the patients, while 4.88% were very dissatisfied. CONCLUSIONS: Although CS is a side effect of upper thoracic sympathectomy, not all patients are affected by it. Significant CS occurs mainly in the back, chest, and abdomen. Neither the type of intervention nor the number of ganglia eliminated has an effect on CS. This side effect notwithstanding, overall satisfaction with the treatment is very satisfactory given that the palmar hyperhidrosis is eliminated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Metals in horseshoe crabs from Delaware Bay.

We examined the concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, manganese, mercury, and selenium in the eggs, leg muscle, and apodeme (carapace musculature) in horseshoe crabs ( Limulus polyphemus) from eight places on the New Jersey and Delaware sides of Delaware Bay to determine whether there were locational differences. Although there were locational differences, the differences were not great. Further, contaminant levels were generally low. The levels of contaminants found in horseshoe crabs were well below those known to cause adverse effects in the crabs themselves or in organisms that consume them or their eggs. Contaminant levels have generally declined in the eggs of horseshoe crabs from 1993 to 2001, suggesting that contaminants are not likely to be a problem for secondary consumers or a cause of their decline.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

[Histopathological changes in sympathetic ganglia of patients treated surgically for palmar-axillary hyperhidrosis. A study of 55 biopsies].

INTRODUCTION: Primary palmar hyperhidrosis (PPH) mainly affects the sympathetic ganglia. This study aims to analyze the histopathological changes in the sympathetic ganglia of patients with PPH. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We studied 55 tissue samples from 35 patients with PPH who underwent T2-T3 gangliectomy for definitive treatment of their disease, analyzing the presence of inflammation, chromatolysis and lipofuscin accumulation. Findings were analyzed in relation to age, compensatory sweating and type of surgery: unilateral, synchronic bilateral or sequential bilateral. RESULTS: We found inflammation in 5.5%, chromatolysis in 61.8% and lipofuscin accumulation in 41.8% of the samples. Chromatolysis and lipofuscin were found without inflammation in 32.1%. Chromatolysis and lipofuscin accumulation were each found in 60% of the samples from synchronic bilateral sympathectomies. However, those percentages decreased between the first and second sympathectomies in sequential procedures, such that chromatolysis was found in 71.4% of first-procedure samples and 42.8% of second-procedure samples; the rates for lipofuscin accumulation changed from 64.2% to 14.2%. Although findings were unrelated to age, they did correlate with compensatory sweating, which was found in 79.7% of patients undergoing synchronic bilateral sympathectomy, 78.5% of sequential bilateral sympathectomy patients and only 56.25% of unilateral sympathectomy patients. CONCLUSIONS: Neuronal death and lipofuscin accumulation unrelated to inflammation are evident in sympathetic ganglia from patients with PPH. Such changes are atypical for a group of patients whose mean age is 29 years, unless such lesions are the result of functional hyperstimulation. Surgery performed sequentially does not lead to overloading of contralateral T2-T3 ganglia; on the contrary, decreased injury is evident.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Perceptual indicators of environmental health, future land use, and stewardship.

There are important linkages between the health of humans and the environment, restoration of degraded lands, and long-term stewardship of public lands, yet most environmental indicators deal only with assessing the physical and biological aspects of ecosystems. In this article, we examine the ratings of perceptions of several environmental problems for their utility as indicators of environmental quality, and examine perceptions of future land use by people interviewed in Santa Fe, New Mexico, near the Department of Energy's (DOE) Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Overall, people with lower incomes rated environmental problems as more severe than others, were more willing to spend federal funds to solve them, and were consistent in their ratings of severity of environmental problems and their willingness to spend federal funds. Cleaning up LANL and other Department of Energy sites, received the highest rating for expenditure of federal funds. The highest rated future uses for DOE sites were for recreation and for National Environmental Research Parks. People with less education generally gave higher ratings to most future land uses for DOE than did those with more education. However, those with higher education gave higher ratings to nuclear reprocessing, and nuclear material storage. Where there were differences, the people interviewed at Santa Fe rated all environmental problems (except pesticides) as more severe than did those previously interviewed in Albuquerque (located farther from the LANL site), and they were more willing to spend federal funds on these problems. Ratings for all future land uses did not differ between the Santa Fe and Albuquerque respondents. These perception-based indicators show general agreement among people living close and farther away from LANL with respect to cleaning up LANL and the future land uses for the site. These indicators should be considered by regulators, site personnel, and policy makers in future management and land use decisions.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

An adaptation of the Framingham coronary heart disease risk function to European Mediterranean areas.

AIM: To determine whether the Framingham function accurately predicts the 10 year risk of coronary disease and to adapt this predictive method to the characteristics of a Spanish population. METHOD AND RESULTS: A Framingham function for predicting 10 year coronary deaths and non-fatal myocardial infarction was applied to the population of the province of Gerona, Spain, where the cumulated incidence rate of myocardial infarction has been determined since 1988 by a specific registry. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in this region of Spain was established in 1995 by a cross sectional study on a representative sample of 1748 people. The number of cases estimated by the Framingham function for 10 year coronary deaths and non-fatal myocardial infarction was compared with that observed. The Framingham function estimated 2425 coronary heart disease cases in women and 1181 were observed. In men, 9919 were estimated and 3706 were observed. Recalibrating the Framingham equations to the event rate and the prevalence of the risk factors in Gerona led to estimates very close to the number of cases observed in Gerona men and women. CONCLUSIONS: The Framingham function estimates more than doubled the actual risk of coronary disease observed in north east Spain. After calibration, the Framingham function became an effective method of estimating the risk in this region with low coronary heart disease incidence.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Exposure of South Carolinians to commercial meats and fish within their meat and fish diet.

There has been considerable interest in the public's exposure to a variety of contaminants through the consumption of wild fish and game, yet there is little information on consumption of commercial meats and fish, or the relationship between commercial and self-caught fish. We conducted a dietary survey in 1999 to estimate exposure levels of 464 individuals from people attending the Palmetto Sportsmen's Classic. Mean consumption was similar for beef, chicken/turkey, and wild-caught fish, and much lower for pork and store-bought fish, and still lower for restaurant fish. There were no ethnic differences in the consumption of most commercial fish and meats, although the differences for chicken approached significance. There were significant ethnic differences in consumption of wild-caught fish. Women ate significantly less of all meat types, except store-bought fish. People over 45 ate less beef than younger people, and people younger than 32 ate significantly more chicken than others. There were no significant differences in consumption patterns as a function of income, except for chicken and wild-caught fish; people with higher incomes ate more chicken than others, and people with lower incomes ate more wild-caught fish than others. When all wild-caught and commercial fish and meats are considered, there are significant differences only for ethnicity and gender. Blacks consume significantly more fish than Whites, and men consume significantly more than women.

Adult↗